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Author Archives: samweiss

Effect of methylphenidate on functional controllability: a preliminary study in medication-naïve children with ADHD

January 11, 2023
In children with ADHD, methylphenidate may stabilize functional network dynamics and reduce reactivity of brain organization. This, in turn, may make it easier for children with ADHD to achieve brain states necessary for cognitively demanding tasks.

Dr. Samantha Plum speaks with UNC Health Talks about mental health tips for parents

January 4, 2023

A New Partnership to Serve North Carolina’s Children and Adolescents

December 12, 2022

Long-term effects of a prenatal mindfulness intervention on depressive symptoms in a diverse sample of women

December 5, 2022
In this study, 162 racially and ethnically diverse pregnant women were assigned to an 8-week mindfulness intervention (MIND) or treatment as usual (TAU). Symptoms of depression were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-, 2-, 3-4, 5-, 6- and 8 years from baseline. Before the intervention, there were no differences in...

Toll-like receptor 3 neuroimmune signaling and behavior change: A strain comparison between Lewis and Wistar rats

December 5, 2022
This work examined the interaction between the immune system and behaviors such as arousal and anxiety-like behavior and found individual differences in immune response that influenced changes in the behaviors.

Development and validation of an eating-related eco-concern questionnaire

December 5, 2022
Eco-concern, the distress experienced relating to climate change, is associated with mental health, yet no study has examined disordered eating related to eco-concern. This study developed and validated a 10-item scale assessing Eating-Related Eco-Concern (EREC).

Dr. Crystal Schiller speaks with News&Observer about ways to support those struggling with the holiday season

November 28, 2022

Early Childhood Development of Node Centrality in the White Matter Connectome and its Relationship to IQ at 6 years.

November 4, 2022
Alterations in the white matter connections or network of the brain are schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. We found that the white matter network of the brain is established early in childhood, suggesting that the alterations observed in psychiatric illness may arise very early in life.

Pathological dissociation in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R): Prevalence, Morbidity, Comorbidy, and Childhood Maltreatment

November 4, 2022
The 1 month prevalence of pathological dissociation (PD) was examined in a large (N=6644) representative sample of the U.S. general population. Pathological dissociation (as measured by the DES-T) was present in 4.1% and associated with poor medical and mental health, increased suicide attempts and psychiatric hospitalizations compared with non-PD subjects.

“If I wasn’t in a rural area, I would definitely have more support”: social needs identified by rural cancer caregivers and hospital staff

November 4, 2022
This multi-stakeholder qualitative study seeks to clarify the most pressing social needs of cancer caregivers. Results from this study informed the development of a multidimensional social support intervention to improve the quality of life and coping self-efficacy of rural dwelling cancer caregivers.